Purdue Discovery Park News

Biofuels Symposium 2008 highlights sustainability, policy issues

Fri, 9 May 2008 13:06:00 EDT

Experts will discuss research advancements and the policy and sustainability issues facing the ethanol and biodiesel industries during Purdue University's Biofuels Symposium 2008 on May 19-20 in Stewart Center.

Speakers at the event, coordinated by the Energy Center in Discovery Park, will include top executives from the biofuels industry, government officials and leading academic researchers from Princeton and Purdue universities and the University of Massachusetts.

Conference to highlight wind's economic potential in the state

Mon, 5 May 2008 12:34:00 EDT

The benefits of establishing wind farms will be among topics covered during WIndiana 2008, a conference on wind energy taking place June 17-18 in Indianapolis.

Sponsored by the Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development and the Energy Center at Purdue University's Discovery Park, the conference will raise awareness of opportunities for wind power in Indiana.

Purdue Research Foundation officials announce statewide technology centers director

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:41:00 EDT

Purdue Research Foundation officials announced that John M. Hanak will serve as director for the Purdue Research Park's four statewide technology centers.

The Indiana centers in operation or under construction are the Purdue Technology Center of West Lafayette, located in the Purdue Research Park; the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana in Merrillville; the Purdue Technology Center of Southeast Indiana in New Albany; and the Purdue Technology Center of Indianapolis. The centers offer space for new and expanding companies and provide business acceleration programs, leasing plans, conference rooms and human resources, and media relations and marketing assistance. Hanak begins his new responsibilities immediately.

Arizona State health-care expert to speak on evidence-based practice

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

The dean of Arizona State University's College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation will give a lecture on the state of evidence-based practice at 10 a.m. Tuesday (April 29) in Purdue University's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Room 121.

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Distinguished Foundation Professor in Nursing at ASU, will give the talk in conjunction with the Pioneer Speaker Series led by Discovery Park's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering.

Three companies based on Purdue research to explore venture capital opportunities in Silicon Valley

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:53:00 EDT

Three Indiana companies launched from research developed at Purdue University have won the opportunity to make formal presentations for funding from venture capital firms in Silicon Valley in mid May.

Moerae Matrix LLC, Kylin Therapeutics Inc., and Events 180° LLC were picked from several businesses that participated in the Fund Raising Boot Camp last October at Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. Through their selection, camp sponsor Lonergan Partners will finance transportation and other arrangements for the trip to California on May 12-14.

Online tool aids in local planning, economic development

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:51:00 EDT

Land use and economic development planning takes time and money - two things few cities and counties have in abundance. Thanks to an online resource, they don't have to.

The Local Decision Maker (LDM) is a comprehensive planning tool that provides almost instant data for producing a socioeconomic and environmental community snapshot, as well as a portrait of how that community might someday appear. It was developed by Purdue University and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.

Economic, environmental issues put spotlight on alternative energy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:49:00 EDT

Rising petroleum prices and environmental concerns are highlighting the need to develop alternative energy technologies, including those that harness hydrogen, say Purdue University officials leading a hydrogen symposium this month.

Hydrogen Symposium 2008, on April 24 and 25, will feature keynote lectures, presentations and poster sessions dealing with various aspects of hydrogen production, distribution and storage. Talks and poster presentations will focus on hydrogen-related technologies, including those that could power future cars and fuel cells and generate electricity for homes and businesses, says Jay Gore, the Reilly University Professor of Engineering and director of the university's Energy Center.

Deadlines extended for inaugural Indiana Companies to Watch program

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:26:00 EDT

The deadline is being extended to nominate growth-oriented companies from across the state for the inaugural Indiana Companies to Watch awards program.

Purdue University is collaborating with the Indiana governor's office, Indiana Economic Development Corp. and its Small Business Development Center Network, KeyBank, and the Edward Lowe Foundation for the 2008 program.

Needle-size device created to track tumors, radiation dose

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:58:00 EDT

Engineers at Purdue University are creating a wireless device designed to be injected into tumors to tell doctors the precise dose of radiation received and locate the exact position of tumors during treatment.

The information would help to more effectively kill tumors, said Babak Ziaie, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a researcher at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center.

Regenstrief Foundation, Purdue center strengthen efforts to improve health care

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The Regenstrief Foundation and Purdue University will expand their partnership in designing a new prescription for the nation's health-care system, officials announced Thursday (April 3).

The foundation, which helped create the university's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering with a $3 million gift in 2005, is investing $11 million more over the next five years, Purdue President France A. Córdova announced at the President's Executive Roundtable Luncheon at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The Purdue center's charge is to use systems engineering, management, science and information technology to improve patient safety and patient care.

Student, faculty entrepreneurs elevate their sales pitch to victory

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:10:00 EDT

A Purdue University senior in health sciences and a graduate student seeking his MBA beat out 30 other competitors Friday (March 28) at the second annual Purdue University Elevator Pitch Competition.

John Mullen, of Dayton, Ohio, won the student competition for the best two-minute sales pitch for his company EcoDisc Inc., which is developing a biodegradable shooting target.

Purdue Energy Center conference to focus on hydrogen

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:48:00 EDT

Researchers from around the world will meet at Purdue University for a two-day conference in April to discuss innovative hydrogen-based energy concepts.

Talks and poster presentations will focus on various hydrogen-related technologies, including those that could power future cars and fuel cells and generate electricity for homes and businesses.

Indiana Companies to Watch program will recognize state's top second-stage companies

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:49:00 EDT

Nominations are now being accepted for the first Indiana Companies to Watch awards program to determine the most promising growth-oriented companies around the state.

Purdue University is partnering with the Indiana governor's office, Indiana Economic Development Corp. and its Small Business Development Center Network, KeyBank in Central Indiana, and the Edward Lowe Foundation for the inaugural awards. The first group of winners will be announced Aug. 28 during a recognition ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

Gore named director of Energy Center at Discovery Park

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:19:00 EDT

Jay P. Gore was named Monday (March 17) as director of the Energy Center at Purdue's Discovery Park.

Gore, the Vincent P. Reilly Professor in Mechanical Engineering, had led the Energy Center as its interim director since its inception in 2005. He also is the past associate dean for research and entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering.

New Purdue facility aims to improve NASA moon rocket engine

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:33:00 EDT

Purdue University engineers are conducting experiments using a new hydrogen facility to help NASA create designs to improve the cooling efficiency and performance of the J-2X rocket engine, critical for future missions to Mars and the moon.

More efficient cooling improves performance and reduces the need for costly overhauls, said William Anderson, an associate professor in Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Purdue leads center to simulate behavior of micro-electromechanical systems

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 11:28:00 EST

The National Nuclear Security Administration has awarded a $17 million cooperative agreement for a research center at Purdue University's Discovery Park to develop advanced simulations for commercial and defense applications, Purdue officials announced Friday (March 7).

The center will focus on the behavior and reliability of miniature switches and is one of five new Centers of Excellence chosen by the NNSA.

Marketing guru, former White House adviser to speak at manufacturing summit

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 10:52:00 EST

Entrepreneur Doug Hall and Alan Hubbard, former White House economic adviser, will speak May 6 at Purdue University's seventh annual advanced manufacturing summit.

Advancing Manufacturing VII: The Impact of Innovation on Manufacturing Competitiveness will take place on campus and will examine ways industry can be competitive in an ever-changing world. The conference is expected to attract 400 attendees.

Purdue joins researchers in India for bionanotechnology, pharmaceuticals symposium

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 09:55:00 EST

Researchers from Purdue University will join colleagues from the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in India next week for a symposium on advancements in bionanotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

"Bionanotechnology and Pharmaceuticals: A Glimpse into the Future" is expected to draw more than 100 researchers and students from across the globe for the conference on March 13-14 in Hyderabad. Lectures, a panel discussion on transforming pharmaceutical manufacturing, and a poster session for students and researchers are planned.

New aluminum-rich alloy produces hydrogen on-demand for large-scale uses

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:07:00 EST

Purdue University engineers have developed a new aluminum-rich alloy that produces hydrogen by splitting water and is economically competitive with conventional fuels for transportation and power generation.

"We now have an economically viable process for producing hydrogen on-demand for vehicles, electrical generating stations and other applications," said Jerry Woodall, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue who invented the process.

Video showcases interdisciplinary research successes at Purdue's Discovery Park

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:32:00 EST

Purdue's Discovery Park, which has grown into a $375 million hub for interdisciplinary research in just five years, has produced a new video outlining its successes and how the park is helping reinvent the 21st century research university.

The 10-minute video highlights Purdue's interdisciplinary projects in nanotechnology, cancer, alternative energy, entrepreneurship, health-care engineering, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, the environment, cyberinfrastructure, innovative learning and homeland security.

Purdue's elevator pitch competition open to entrepreneurs

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 10:14:00 EST

Registration is now open for the Elevator Pitch Competition to be held March 28 at the Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Purdue University's Discovery Park.

The competition is open to students, faculty and entrepreneurs from Purdue Research Park.

Healthcare TAP sees healthy growth, new director

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 11:24:00 EST

Purdue University's Healthcare Technical Assistance Program is expanding to include programs aimed at improving the health-care provider system, public health system, control of employer-paid health-care costs, and medicine safety.

To meet the growing demand for its services, TAP has promoted Mary Anne Sloan from Healthcare TAP associate director to director.

Purdue graduate students participate in international research conferences in India

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:38:00 EST

Five Purdue University graduate students are traveling to India through a Discovery Park program to participate in international conferences on global climate change and the mechanics of cells.

Doctoral students Moetasim Ashfaq, Dileep Birur, Charlotte Kendra Castillo and Kyle Smith will attend the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit: Sustainable Development and Climate Change in New Delhi from Feb. 7-9.

New technique quickly detects cancer indicator

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:02:00 EST

Researchers have developed a new way to detect protein movements inside cells, which signal a variety of cellular changes such as those in cancer cell development. The method could help diagnose cancer in the future.

By combining two distinct techniques, the technology can examine large numbers of cells individually, a feat not previously possible, said Chang Lu, a Purdue University assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

Purdue entrepreneurship certificate program enrolls more than 1,000 undergrads

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:29:00 EST

Purdue University's Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program has enrolled more than 1,000 undergraduate students since it began in 2005.

"We started with 40 students and a three-year goal of having 1,000 involved by spring 2008," said Nathalie Duval-Couetil, director of the certificate program and associate director of Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, where the program is based. "Today our goal is to identify undergraduate students across disciplines who have a real hunger for starting businesses of their own some day."